Wetherby Road roundabout – new layout proposals revealed

Chance to comment on plans to reduce outer ring road congestion

 City of York Council is asking for comments on new proposals to cut congestion and journey times on one of York’s busiest roads.

Residents and businesses have until Friday 2 February to comment on designs to upgrade the outer ring road’s Wetherby Road roundabout – one of seven roundabouts on A1237 and part of a £38m programme of improvements set for the next four years.

The roundabout upgrades will mean more lanes and space on the approaches and exits, and improvements for pedestrians and cyclists. “Where possible” the road layouts will be designed to accommodate a potential future scheme to bring the outer ring road up to dual carriageway standard.

The Wetherby Road roundabout improvement works are planned for early Summer in 2018, although some site clearance work could start earlier.

Plans can be viewed online at www.york.gov.uk/yorr, at the council’s West Offices on Station Rise, YO1 6GA, or at two special public exhibitions at Acomb Explore Library on Front Street, YO24 3BZ on Thursday 18 January and Monday 22 January from 3-7pm

All comments will be reviewed and changes to the design made where possible.  The decision on the final layout will be taken at a public Executive Member for Transport and Planning Decision Session meeting in March 2018.

The news comes as West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee met to discuss the project and approve the progress of the £3.6m first phase of roundabout improvements earlier this week. Full programme funding is coming through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, and the Leeds City Region Growth Deal – a £1bn package of government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

The Council web site says

(more…)

Vital road link resurfaced as wind brings down branches in parts of Westfield

The Council has finished resurfacing the carriageway linking Askham Lane and The Green. The road had become badly potholed with the road humps posing a particular threat for cyclists. The Council completed the resurfacing work this week

In the same area, residents continue to complain about vehicles parked on the bend. They obstruct traffic and cause sight line problems. The Council will be asked to consider introducing restrictions on this section of road.

Recent winds have brought down several branches from trees in the Wetherby Road and Askham Lane areas. The problems has been exacerbated by lack of routine maintenance to highways trees in recent years. In some cases branches are fouling over head communications cables while in others public footpaths have been obstructed. It is hoped that some maintenance work will take place this winter.

Vehicle activated speed sign removed

Faulty speed sign on Wetherby Road last week

The faulty speed sign on Wetherby Road has been removed by the Council.

The road has a problem with speeding traffic. 20% of vehicles were activating the sign when last checked.

However some of the matrix lights are faulty and this involves replacing the whole assembly.

Concerns have been expressed that the Council may abandon these types of sign with some claiming that they have little effect.

We would dispute that.

Anyone standing near such a sign  will see numerous drivers applying the foot brake when a sign flashes: suggesting that they do have the effect of alerting many motorists to the dangers of exceeding the 30 mph limit.

We would like to see the Council use the site to trial an alternative type of sign. In other parts of the country Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) display the actual speed of approaching vehicles while some give a thumbs up to drivers who are below the limit. These seem to be more effective.

We think that occasional high profile visits from one of the North Yorkshire police cameras vans would provide additional reassurance for those local residents struggling to exit from their driveways where visibility is limited.

In the longer term, it is likely that cars will be equipped with technology which warns drivers of the prevailing speed limit.

Potentially vehicle speeds could actually be governed to the prevailing limit,.

 

That was the week that was in west York in pictures 30th April 2017

An upgraded CCTV camera has been installed near the shops on Chapelfields. We hope that it  -, together with increased high visibility police patrols – will reduce crime levels in the area. We’re also told that – after repairs to the doors – all the garages in The Wandle block have been let.

Still high levels of fly tipping in west York. These are some of the numerous cases that we have reported

Good to see that the parking bay lines have now been repainted. We’ve reported the full – and damaged – litter bin

The growing season is upon us and several hedges are now obstructing footpaths. Particularity disappointing was the failure by the Council to take prompt action to remove the self seeded bushes on Askham Lane which block the view from the bus shelter.

Still a mystery over why the road was closed on Friday. Most of the speed tables in the Windsor Garth area are breaking up.
Shame more information is not posted by the Council on local noticeboards. What’s there is out of date and pretty untidy

New 40 mph speed signs have been erected covering the section of Wetherby Road to the by pass. Residents hope that the buffer will reduce speeds in the built up area. The Vehicle Activated Speed signs on the road are both working. A very quick check revealed that about 10% of motorists still activate the 30 mph limit reminder

York Council neglecting problems with speeding traffic?

Following the embarrassing failure of the 20 mph speed limit project (where on many roads average speeds were found to have risen following the installation of the new signs) it appears that the York Council is turning a blind eye to speeding problems.

Wetherby Road VAS

Wetherby Road VAS

Many residents had pointed out that risks were greatest at locations where motorists routinely exceeded 40 mph.

Despite this, the Councils web page, which is devoted to addressing speeding concerns, has not been kept up to date.

The page (click to access) claims to provide links to an “on line” Police form that can be completed by those wanting vehicle speeds checked. In fact the links are broken (although you can access the form direct by clicking here).

Nor is the Council reporting back on the results of speed checks that have been undertaken. The last list dates from November 2015 but does not include any speed data

There are several problem locations in west York.

These  include St Stephens Road while the frequent activation of the Vehicle Activated warning  Signs on Wetherby Road and Green Lane suggests that many drivers still do not stay within the 30 mph limit.

North Yorks speed camera vanThe Police have 3 safety camera vans. However they tend to visit the same locations in the York area on a regular basis. Clearly they can be assured of regular fine income from sites like those on the A64, but this is at the expense of high profile “reassurance checks” in residential areas.

Recent figures suggest that the vans now concentrate mainly on the A64 and A59 near York.

The Police have singularly failed to produce statistics which confirm whether deployment of the vans has reduced accident rates on particular stretches of road.

Nor do they report whether average speeds have been reduced at sites that they visit regularly.

So, all in all, we think that the speed awareness partnership needs to up its game in and around the City.

 

Wetherby Road speed limits to change

The Council has today agreed to impose a 40 mph speed limit on Wetherby Road (and Bland Lane) between the A1237 and the built up area. Signage is also to be improved.

It is hoped that the buffer zone will encourage drivers to slow down before they reach the 30 mph limit. A similar buffer zone on Askham Lane has not proved to be very successful 

We have doubts about this plan which will do nothing to control the speed of vehicles leaving the City. An occasional visit by the speed camera van would be more effective as a deterrent.

However the re-election of the old crime commissioner recently means that speed enforcement will continue to be focused on villages and trunk roads. The later produce the bulk of the nearly £1 million income that the North Yorkshire police derive from the camera vans.

Wetherby Road speed limits